In medieval times, labyrinths began to appear on church walls and floors around 1000 AD.

The most famous medieval labyrinth, with great influence on later practice, was created in Chartres Cathedral. This labyrinth wards off evil at the entrance to Lucca Cathedral.

The inscription reads, "This is the labyrinth built by Dedalus of Crete; all who entered therein were lost, save Theseus, thanks to Ariadne's thread".

In the story of the Labyrinth as told by the Greeks, the Athenian hero Theseus is challenged to kill the Minotaur in the labyrinth, finding his way back out with the help of Ariadne's thread. This labyrinth has a single path to the center, no thread required.